Method of delaying the ignition of white phosphorus incendiary compositions



United States Patent METHOD OF DELA YlNG THE IGNITION 0F WHITEPHGSPHORUS INCENDIARY COMPQ. SITIONS Seymour M. Kaye, Dover, N.J.,assignor to the United States of America as represented by the Secretaryof the Army No Drawing. Filed Apr. 23, 1963, Ser. No. 275,167

6 Claims. (Cl. 149-29) (Granted under Title 35, US. Code (1952), see.266) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by orfor the Government for governmental purposes without the payment to meof any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to an incendiary device and particularly, to anaerosol spray incendiary device. More particularly the invention relatesto an incendiary solution which is amenable to propulsion from anaerosol spray container.

In the conduct of limited Warfare the use of incendiaries as an acceptedtactical Weapon by troops and guerrillas has long been established.Incendiary devices have also been employed from time immemorial bysaboteurs and espionage agents for the purpose of destroying militaryfacilities and documents, diplomatic papers, records, etc. Heretofore,the incendiary devices employed have been numerous and varied, rangingfrom the common match to the so-called Molotov cocktail. However, allhave failed in one or more respects to measure up to a uni versallysuitable incendiary, and their use has always been attended bysignificant disadvantages. For example, spontaneity of ignition isundesirable with respect to espionage activities since there is noallowance for lag time to permit escape prior to incendiary action.Concomitant with spontaneous ignition is the disadvantage of immediateillumination, particularly where incendiary activities are conducted atnight or in darkened areas. Destruction of the incendiary device isanother disadvantage where multiple ignitions are contemplated or wherea failure of ignition occurs.

Accordingly, a principal object of the present invention is to providean incendiary device, the use of which is unattended by the foregoingand other disadvantages.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved incendiarydevice Which is relatively small, easily portable, and reusable.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an incendiarysolution which may be propelled simply and easily from an aerosol spraycontainer.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be obvious or appearhereinafter in the following detailed description.

In its broadest aspect the invention comprises a solution of whitephosphorus as solute in a mixture of carbon disulfide and kerosene assolvent. This solution may be applied to combustible material, e.g.,paper, cloth, plastics, Wood, grass, brush, jungle foliage, etc., toeifect incendiary action. In the initiation of the burning action,ignition of the phosphorus occurs spontaneously but only after asufiicient period of time has elapsed for evaporation of the carbondisulfide. This time period may be increased by increasing the contentof kerosene. It is therefore obvious that lag time before ignition maybe controlled within fairly accurate limits.

The inventive solution lends itself to simple packaging in an aerosolspray container to which a propellant, such as dichlorodifluoromethanesold under the trademark Freon 12, is added under pressure. Theresultant article 3,i83,l32 Patented May 11, 1955 ice is easily handled,readily portable, simple to use, and reusable.

Sprays of the invention which have been formulated and packaged inaerosol containers comprise the following percent by weight ranges ofingredients:

White phosphorus 5 to 10%, preferably 7.5%.

Carbon disulfide 35 to 60%, preferably 47.5%. Kerosene 10 to 30%,preferably 20%. Freon 12 25% 25%.

While the foregoing is illustrative of the invention, it is expresslyunderstood that various changes may be made in the device and solutionof this invention and that ingredients other than those specificallydescribed herein may be employed without departing from the spirit andscope of this invention.

I claim:

1. A method of controllably delaying the ignition of combustiblematerials contacted with white phosphorus incendiary, said methodcomprising the steps of dissolving 6 /3 to 13%% by weight of Whitephosphorus in 46 /3 to by weight of carbon disulfide to form a solution,adding to said solution increasing amounts of kerosene for increasingthe amount of delay in spontaneous ignition, said kerosene rangingbetween 13% to 40% by weight of the resultant solution and applying theresultant solution to said combustible materials.

2. The method described in claim 1 wherein 10% by weight of whitephosphorous is dissolved in 63 /3% by weight of carbon disulfide and 26/3 by weight of kerosene.

3. A method of controllably delaying the ignition of combustiblematerial contacted with white phosphorus incendiary, said methodcomprising the steps of dissolving 5 to 10% by weight of whitephosphorous in 35 to 60% by weight of carbon disulfide to form asolution, adding to said solution increasing amounts of kerosene forincreasing the amount of delay in spontaneous ignition, said keroseneranging from 10 to 30% by weight, incorporating therewith 25% by weightof dichloroditluoromethane and spraying the resultant mixture underpressure into said combustible material.

4. A method of delaying the ignition of combustible solid material withWhite phosphorus incendiary, comprising applying to said combustiblematerial a solution of about 5 to 10 parts by weight of white phosphorusin about 35 to 60 parts by Weight of carbon disulfide and about 10 to 30parts by weight of kerosene; whereby spontaneous ignition of said whitephosphorus is delayed until said carbon disulfide has evaporated fromsaid solution.

5. The method described in claim 4 wherein said solution is applied froma pressurized container to said combustible material.

6. The method described in claim 5 wherein said solution is propelledfrom said container by dichlorodifluoromethane.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,573,471 10/51Malina et al. 149-29 X 2,747,672 5/56 Simm 14929 X 3,010,815 11/61Pierce et a1. 14940 X CARL D. QUARFORTH, Primary Examiner.

REUBEN EPSTEIN, Examiner.

4. A METHOD OF DELAYING THE IGNITION OF COMBUSTIBLE SOLID MATERIAL WITHWHITE PHOSPHORUS INCENDIARY, COMPRISING APPLYING TO SAID COMBUSTIBLEMATERIAL A SOLUTION OF ABOUT 5 TO 10 PARTS BY WEIGHT OF WHITE POSPHORUSIN ABOUT 35 TO 60 PARTS BY WEIGHT OF CARBON DISULFIDE AND ABOUT 10 TO 30PARTS BY WEIGHT OF KEROSENE; WHEREBY SPONTANEOUS IGNITION OF SAID WHITEPHOSPHORUS IS DELAYED UNTIL SAID CARBON DISULFIDE HAS EVAPORATED FROMSAID SOLUTION.